Highlights
- The Straw Hat Pirates must escape Egghead Island and head towards their next destination, Elbaf, despite facing obstacles like Admiral Kizaru and CP0 agent Rob Lucci.
- Elbaf will play a crucial role in the Final Saga of One Piece, potentially leading to meetings between Luffy and Shanks, Robin and Saul, and Usopp and his father Yasopp.
- Usopp's visit to Elbaf could fulfill his promise to Dorry and Brogy and also result in a reunion with his long-lost father, providing him with a power-up and an opportunity to become a brave warrior of the sea.
As the frenetic pace of the Egghead Arc in One Piece reaches its climax, the Straw Hat Pirates must now direct all their efforts to escape the island with Vegapunk and his satellites and rush towards their recently revealed next destination: Elbaf. This proposition is easier said than done though, as the presence of Admiral Kizaru, CP0 agent Rob Lucci, the Seraphim, and finally, one of the Five Elders in Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, are more than effective obstacles to the crew's flight from Egghead Island.
Regardless of how they make it out of Egghead Island alive, there is no doubt that Elbaf will have a large part to play in the remainder of the Final Saga of One Piece, for individual crew members and the development of the narrative as a whole. It is here that Luffy might finally meet Shanks, Robin might reunite with Saul to learn about the Void Century, and Usopp might finally see his long-lost father Yasopp. Usopp in particular, could have a very prominent role in Elbaf for a number of reasons, which stretch all the way back to the start of the Straw Hat Pirates' journey through the Grand Line.
Fulfilling His Promise To Dorry And Brogy
The seeds of the Straw Hat Pirates' visit to Elbaf were laid as early as the Little Garden Arc of the Arabasta Saga, when the crew encountered the giants Dorry and Brogy, who were former captains of the Giant Warrior Pirates that had been exiled to the island of Little Garden for a century. After a hunting dispute erupted between the pair, Dorry and Brogy resolved to fight each other on a regular basis, until one of them was defeated to resolve the dispute. Unfortunately, as they were equally matched in strength, there had been no such resolution for a hundred years.
On learning of the giants of Elbaf and their culture, Usopp, who, at the time was just beginning his journey as a pirate, was thoroughly impressed by the valor and pride of the giants. Additionally, he was also quite enthralled by the power of the giants, who are considered one of the strongest races in the world of One Piece, teeming with extremely powerful warriors. Before departing the island, Usopp vowed to visit Elbaf and meet the giants, as he believed that they would be able to aid him in fulfilling his dream of becoming a brave warrior of the sea.
Reuniting With His Father
Another major reason for Usopp to visit Elbaf, is the fact that the Red Hair Pirates, led by Shanks, were last seen defending the island against the advance of the Kid Pirates. The sniper of Shanks' crew is none other than Yasopp, the father of Usopp, who he has not seen since the death of his mother. Considering the fact that Luffy and Shanks might also finally reunite on Elbaf, another touching reunion is definitely on the cards if Usopp sets foot in the land of the giants, where more information about his past could finally come to light.
This meeting has been alluded to numerous times, and the tension in its build up is now reaching a point of no return, as the Straw Hat Pirates attempt to flee Egghead and seek refuge on Elbaf. If Usopp does finally meet his father, there are quite a few things that the pair would have to discuss, such as the reason why Yasopp had to leave his ailing wife and young son, or the journeys that both father and son have been on since becoming pirates. Most importantly, as a far more seasoned sniper who is one part of one of the strongest pirate crews in the New World, Yasopp will have quite a few things to teach his son, providing Usopp with a much-needed power up to face even more powerful opponents in the story arcs to come.
Becoming A Brave Warrior Of The Sea
During most of the Wano Country Arc, Usopp was extremely out of his depth when confronted by the more powerful officers of the Beasts Pirates, who were all specialist fighters. Even as Robin, Jinbe, Sanji, Zoro, Chopper, Franky, and Luffy all gained power ups in Wano Country, Usopp was left struggling to catch up and contribute, lamenting that his lack of strength was hindering him from aiding his allies.
Although he awakened his Observation Haki back in the Dressrosa Arc, there has not been much development in his use of this ability. Moreover, now that the Straw Hat Pirates have been recognized as the crew of one of the Four Emperors of the Sea, there is more pressure for him to improve his fighting capabilities to keep up with his stronger crew mates and take on mightier foes such as the Marine Admirals. Whether this comes as an enhancement of his sniping skills or a crash course in harnessing his Haki to aid him in combat, Elbaf could finally give Usopp the share of the spotlight he deserves at this juncture in One Piece's storyline.
Much like Sanji in Whole Cake Island, Usopp is due for a power up and an exploration of his past to determine the next stage in the development of his character. Where One Piece seemingly missed an opportunity to explore Zoro's character in greater depth during Wano, there is now an even better chance for the sniper of the Straw Hat Pirates to come to terms with his past and lineage, as part of molding himself into the brave warrior of the sea he has always yearned to be.
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